Smoking article and filter therefor containing vitamin a



Sept. 5, 1967 N. J. WATERBURY 3,339,558

. SMOKING ARTICLEAND FILTER THEREFOR CONTAINING VITAMIN A Filed Oct. 28,1966 IN VENTOR N ELSON J. WATERBU RY ATTORNEYS United States Patent3,339,558 SMOKING ARTICLE AND FILTER THEREFOR CONTAINING VITAMIN ANelson J. Waterbury, Palm Beach, Fla., assignor of fivetenths to F.Barry Haskett, Ocean City, NJ. Filed Oct. 28, 1966, Ser. No. 590,392 2Claims. (Cl. 13110.1)

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A method and/or filter cigarette forintroducing vitamin A into the mouth and respiratory tract of a smokerwhich consists of disposing a rupturable capsule in th mouth end of acigarette having a filtering medium Wherein said rupturable capsule Willcontain a controlled amount of vitamin A in solution, applying pressureto said rupturable capsule to break the same immediately before smokingthereby releasing the vitamin A for exposure to the smoke passingthrough said filtering medium, so that after the cigarette is lit andsuction applied thereto tiny droplets or an aerosol of said vitamin AWill be carried in the smoke to the respiratory tract of the smoker.

The present invention relates to smoking articles provided with afiltering means and more particularly to a filter useful in smokingarticles. The invention is particularly applicable to filter cigarettes.

In recent years there has been considerable research conductedthroughout the world with respect to the relationship between cigarettesmoking and various diseases such as lung cancer, throat cancer,emphysema and heart trouble. This research and study has culminated inthe recent United States Surgeon-Generals Report which indicates adefinite correlation between cigarette smoking and lung cancer.

Considerable research has also been conducted in an attempt to isolateand determine the nature of the ingredient in the smoke of cigarettesand other smoking articles which causes these ailments. It has beendetermined that there are a great number of carcinogenic substances inthe smoke of tobacco, the most notable of these being 3,4-benzopyrene.

Attempts to isolate this material and similar carcinogenic materialsfound in the smoke of tobacco and remove these materials therefrom havenot been successful enough to bring a safer cigarette to the publicmarket. These attempts have included various methods of treating thetobacco while growing, and after it has been prepared for use in asmoking article so as to isolate and eliminate the harmful constituents.Such attempts, however, have not been successfully adopted in that suchtreatment cannot efiectively remove a substantial portion of thecarcinogenic materials because of the inability of such treating methodsto effectively isolate these materials.

Previous attempts to filter out the carcinogenic material from cigarettesmoke or the smoke from similar smoking articles have been completelyunsuccessful since no adequate filtering means has yet been devisedwhich can effectively eliminate these materials without simultaneouslyremoving, to an appreciable extent, the desirable aroma and taste of thecigarette smoke.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a filtercigarette which allows for the introduction of vitamin A into therespiratory tract of a smoker in the form of tiny droplets oran'aerosol. The vitamin A in the form of an aqueous solution isincorporated in a controlled amount in a rupturable capsule in the mouthend of a filter cigarette so that immediately prior to smoking thecapsule may be ruptured by slight pressure exerted by the fingers of thesmoker whereby when the cigarette is lit and suction applied thereto bythe smoker, the smoke passing through the filtering medium carries thevitamin A in the form of tiny droplets or an aerosol into therespiratory tract of the smoker. Since vitamin A is one of the knownmaterials for the maintenance of good health (especially with regard tothe epithelial tissue), the present invention provides another mode ofintroducing into individuals this valuable material.

It is therefore, a principal object of the present inven tion to providea method and/ or filter cigarette for introducing vitamin A into themouth and respiratory tract of the smoker.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a cigaretteor similar smoking article and a filtering means therefor which containvitamin A.

A still further embodiment of the present invention comprises theincorporation of vitamin A as a dispersion of fine droplets or vaporWithin the filtering medium of a filter cigarette.

Yet a further embodiment of the present invention comprises theemployment of a rupturable capsule Within the filter or tobacco of thecigarette which rupturable capsule releases vitamin A upon slightpressure exerted by the fingers of the smoker.

Still further objects and advantages of the smoking article of thepresent invention, and filter therefor, will become more apparent fromthe following more detailed description and the accompanying drawingswherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a smoking article, i.e.,

a filter cigarette, in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a filter cigarette in accordancewith one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view showing in cross section the filteringelement of the filter cigarette of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a filter cigarette illustrating afurther embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view showing in cross section the filteringelement of the filter cigarette of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a filter cigarette showing a furtherembodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is a further cross-sectional view showing a cigaretteillustrating a further embodiment of the present invention.

In all of the figures, like numerals represent like elements. I

FIG. 1 represents a filter cigarette 1 embodying a filtering device inaccordance with the present invention. While this figure illustrates afilter cigarette, it is important to note that the present invention isnot limited thereto but is suitably applicable to the filtering of thesmoke of cigars, pipes and similar smoking articles.

In addition, while this figure illustrates a filter cigarette having afiltering element, in accordance with the present invention, attachedthereto, it is to be understood that the present invention is suitablyapplicable to the incorporation of the filtering element into a holderor similar attachment for use in the filtering of smoke of a cigaretteor similar smoking article.

The filter cigarette 1 is shown in cross section in FIG. 2. This figureillustrates the now-familiar filter-tip cigarette including a burnablepaper wrapping or casing 3, a filling or smoke-producing material, e.g.,tobacco 5, and a filter tip at the mouth end comprising a filter casingor tipping paper 7 and the filtering material 9. The filtering material9 can comprise any of the standard materials now employed in thefiltering of cigarettes and similar smoking articles. Thus the filteringmaterial can comprise wadded cotton or rolled gauze, rolled, crimpedcellulose sheet material, a matrix of charcoal or glass fibers, or asynthetic resinous material capable of entrapping the deleterious solidparticles in the tobacco smoke. Dispersed within the filtering material9 are tiny droplets 11 of vitamin A which material is uniformlydispersed throughout the filtering medium 9. In this manner, when thesmoke produced by the burning of the tobacco within the burnable paperwrapping or casing 3 passes through the filter medium 9, such smoke willpick up the tiny droplets or an aerosol of vitamin A and carry them outof the filter of the cigarette to the smoker. The vitamin A willtherefore pass with the smoke in the form of tiny droplets or an aerosolinto the respiratory tract of the smoker.

Thus, there has been provided a new and unobvious method and/or filtercigarette for introducing vitamin A into the mouth and respiratory tractof a smoker with a view of providing another mode of introducing thisvaluable material into the respiratory tract of an individual.

In FIG. 3 the filtering element of the present invention is shown inenlarged cross section. The droplets or an aerosol of vitamin A 11,dispersed within the filter medium 9, are of such a size that they areeasily entrained by the smoke of the burning tobacco passing through thefiltering element. While such a filtering element is shown in FIG. 2 asforming the mouth portion of a conventional filter cigarette, it shouldbe noted that the filtering element may be advantageously employed as aseparate filtering element in a holder for a cigarette, cigar or similarsmoking article. In addition, the filtering element can beadvantageously employed as a separate filtering element located in thebody portion of a pipe. In all instances the smoke produced from theburning tobacco passing through the filtering element entrains thedroplets of vitamin A 11, dispersed within the filter medium 9, suchthat the vitamin A is carried to the smoker along with the smoke.

An additional embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIG.4 which again shows a filtering device attached as the mouth portion ofa conventional filter cigarette. The vitamin A within the filter medium90f the filtering element is not dispersed as tiny droplets within thefilter medium 9 but is encapsulated in liquid or vapor form within arupturable capsule 13 located within the filter medium 9. The rupturablecapsule 13 containing the vitamin A is located within the filteringelement in such a manner that the capsule can be easily ruptured uponthe application of slight pressure. Such pressure can be easily suppliedby the smoker prior to smoking the cigarette. The rupturable capsule 13can be any organic material such as sugar, egg white, or a thin-walledplastic material which can be easily ruptured by the application ofslight pressure. Exemplary materials include, for example, gelatin,polyethylene plastic, natural or synthetic rubber, or any other suitablematerial capable of rupturing by the application of slight pressure. Thevitamin A 15 is maintained within the rupturable capsule 13 either inthe liquid or vapor form, the liquid form being preferred. The vitamin Amay also occur as the ure material or may be employed as an aqueoussolution located within the rupturable capsule 13. The term solution asused herein means solutions which are clear, show no dispersion visibleto the naked eye, and remain so indefinitely. This type of vitamin Aaqueous solution e.g. oil-water solution of vitamin A is fullyillustrated in U.S. Patent 2,417,299 issued Mar. 11, 1947. When anaqueous solution of the vitamin A is employed, the water which isreleased upon the rupturing of the capsule 13 additionally aids inmoisturizing the smoke which is produced from the burning tobacco. Inaddition to vitamin A, it is important to note that various otheradditional ingredients can be incorporated within the rupturable capsuleto add further desirable properties to the smoke produced. Thus, forexample, additional health-benefitting vitamins as well as flavorantssuch as menthol or chlorophyll can be advantageously maintained withinthe rupturable capsule 13 along with the vitamin A of the presentinvention.

FIG. 5 shows the filtering element of FIG. 4 in enlarged cross section.Here again, while the filtering element is shown in FIG. 4 as the mouthportion of a conventional cigarette, it should be known that suchfiltering element can be advantageously employed also as an independentfiltering element to be located within a holder for a cigarette or cigaror can be employed as an independent filtering element located withinthe body of a pipe or similar tobacco-smoking article.

In addition, While the rupturable capsule or container 13 has been shownas a single large rupturable container or capsule within the filteringmedium of FIGS. 4 and 5, the vitamin A and other materials can beconveniently encapsulated within a number of smaller rupturable capsulesor containers located within the filtering medium. In addition, such arupturable container or capsule containing the vitamin A can beconveniently located within the tobacco portion of a cigarette or cigarshould it be desired to obtain the benefits of the entrainment of thevitamin A within the smoke produced from the burning tobacco without theaid of a filtering medium. When the rupturable container or capsule 13shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 is ruptured by slight pressure exerted by thefingers of the smoker, the liquid or vaporous vitamin A is released anddispersed throughout the filtering medium 9. In this way, the smokeproduced from the burning of the tobacco of the cigarette or othertobacco-smoking article entrains the dispersed vitamin A as the smokepasses through the filtering element. In this manner the vitamin A istaken along with the smoke into the lungs and other organs of thesmoker.

An alternative embodiment of the present invention is illustrated inFIG. 6. In this embodiment, small capsules 17 of vitamin A are locatedon the inner face of the filter casing or tipping paper 7. The wallmaterial of the capsules 17 can be prepared from the same material asset forth in FIGS. 4 and 5 for the rupturable container or capsule 13.These tiny capsules 17 containing vitamin A again are rupturable and thevitamin A is released upon slight pressure exerted by the smoker. Whenthe vitamin A located within the small capsules 17 is released, itdisperses throughout the filtering medium 11 in such a manner that it iseasily entrained by the smoke from the burning tobacco which passesthrough the filtering element.

A still further embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 7.Here a smoking article such as a cigarette or cigar contains a finedispersion 19 of vitamin A throughout the tobacco medium 5 of thecigarette or cigar. In this manner Vitamin A can be entrained in thesmoke produced from the burning tobacco in the same manner as it couldbe entrained when employed as a dispersion within the filtering mediumof a filter cigarette. This embodiment, therefore, allows for theobtaining of the beneficial results associated with the intake ofvitamin A without the necessity of the employment of a filter to be usedwith a cigarette, cigar or other similar smoking article. While thepresent invention has been described primarily with respect to theincorporation of vitamin A as a dispersion, or encapsulated, within afiltering element to be employed with a tobacco-smoking article or as adispersion, or encapsulated, within the tobacco medium itself of such atobacco-smoking article, it is noted at this time that a treatment ofgrowing tobacco or cut tobacco prior to the manufacturing of thecigarettes or other smoking article with vitamin A will also addbeneficial effects to the cigarettes or other smoking articles thusproduced.

While the present invention has been described primarily with respect tocertain preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the inventionis in no Way to be deemed as limited thereto, but should be construed asbroadly as all or any equivalents thereof.

Having adequately described the present invention, what is desired to beprotected by Letters Patent is:

1. A method for introducing vitamin A into the mouth and respiratorytract of a smoker which comprises locating a rupturable capsule in themouth end of a cigarette having a tobacco charge and a filter mediumdownstream from said tobacco charge, said rupturable capsule being incontact with said filter medium and containing a controlled amount ofvitamin A in an aqueous solution, applying pressure to said rupturablecapsule to break the capsule immediately before smoking therebyreleasing the vitamin A solution for exposure to the smoke passingthrough the said filter medium so that after the cigarette is lit andsuction applied thereto, tiny droplets or an aerosol of said vitamin Awill be carried in the smoke to the respiratory tract of the smoker.

2. A filter cigarette for introducing vitamin A into the mouth andrespiratory tract of a smoker comprising a tubular wrapper having atobacco charge at one end thereof, a fibrous filtering medium within thewrapper and at the mouth end of the said cigarette downstream from thetobacco, said filtering medium having disposed within the mass thereof arupturable capsule containing vitamin A in an aqueous solution, saidcapsule being rupturable upon the application of finger pressureimmediately before smoking, thereby releasing the vitamin A solution forexposure to the smoke passing through the filtering medium so that afterthe cigarette is lit and suction applied thereto, tiny droplets or anaerosol of said vitamin A will be carried in the smoke to therespiratory tract of the smoker.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,755,206 7/ 1956 Statia 13110.12,774,354 12/ 1956 Florman 131-20O X 2,809,637 10/1957 Hale 131-92,890,973 6/ 1959 Fachini 131- 17 3,047,433 8/1962 Bavley et al. 13117FOREIGN PATENTS 652,716 11/ 1962 Canada. 1,173,793 10/ 1958 I France.

879,376 6/ 1953 Germany.

OTHER REFERENCES Ser. No. 261,049; Lande (A.P.C.), published May 11,1943.

Vitamin A Found To Inhibit Cancer (pub.) New York Times, Tuesday, Oct.25, 1966, pp. 47 and 90.

SAMUEL KOREN, Primary Examiner.

MELVIN D. REIN, Examiner.

1. A METHOD FOR INTRODUCING VITAMIN A INTO THE MOUTH AND RESPIRATORYTRACT OF A SMOKER WHICH COMPRISES LOCATING A RUPTURABLE CAPSULE IN THEMOUTH END OF A CIGARETTE HAVING A TOBACCO CHARGE AND A FILTER MEDIDUMDOWNSTREAM FROM SAID TOBACCO CHARGE, SAID RUPTURABLE CAPSULE BEING INCONTACT WITH SAID FILTER MEDIUM AND CONTAINING A CONTROLLED AMOUNT OFVITAMIN A IN AN AQUEOUS SOLUTION, APPLYING PRESSURE TO SAID RUPTURABLECAPSULE TO BRAK THE CAPSULE IMMEDIATELY BEFORE SMOKING THEREBY RELEASINGTHE VITAMIN A SOLUTION FOR EXPOSURE TO THE SMOKE PASSING THROUGH THESAID FILTER MEDIUM SO THAT AFTER THE CIGARETTE IS LIT THE SUCTIONAPPLIED THERETO, TINY DROPLETS OR AN AEOSOL OF SAID VITAMIN A WILL BECARRIED IN THE SMOKE TO THE RESPIRATORY TRACT OF THE SMOKER.